Gertrude and Claudius (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: John Updike
- First Published: 2000
- Type of Work: Novel
- Time of Work: The twelfth century
- Setting: Denmark
- Principal Characters: Gerutha/Geruthe/Gertrude, Horwendil/Horvendile/Hamlet, Feng/Fengon/Claudius, Amleth/Hamlet, Corambus/Corambis/Polonius
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Mothers, Parents and children, Murder or homicide, Adultery, Kings, queens, or royalty, Denmark or Danish people, Princes or princesses, Twelfth century
- Locales: Denmark
Avid readers of John Updike’s fiction will not be surprised to find that Gertrude and Claudius is the story of a love triangle. A young woman of significant social stature marries somewhat reluctantly an older man of distinction, with whom she has a child and for whom she develops genuine affection. Unfortunately, the husband seldom shows toward her any real signs of love. As their child grows and becomes closely attached to his father, the woman, approaching middle age, begins to find comfort in the company of her husband’s younger brother. They fall in love, a sad kind of...
[The entire page is 2001 words long]
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